HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Nearly four years after the deaths of Lyric Woods and Devin Clark in Orange County, the man charged is being tried. The trial started on Wednesday, Jan. 14, after the jury and alternates were seated.
Issiah Ross, 21, is accused of murdering the two teens in September 2022. Ross was 17 when he allegedly committed the crime; however, he is being tried as an adult. He has pleaded not guilty and is claiming self-defense in the case.
After rejecting a plea bargain offer on Monday, Jan. 12.
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Motions that were granted on Monday include joining the charges into one trial, excluding witnesses from the courtroom with some exceptions, and Ross pleading that it was self-defense, although it was filed late, according to the prosecution.
New court filings show jurors may also hear from nine 'expert witnesses' that include an FBI special agent and a forensic scientist.
The judge said the trial could last two weeks.
Court is wrapping up for the day
No more witnesses will be called Thursday. The prosecution said it is more than two-thirds done with its witness list.
More testimony will be heard Friday. Court will begin at 9:30 a.m.
Antwan Bryant has been called to testify. Bryant knows Issiah Ross and Devin Clark.
Bryant was in a relationship with Ross's mother before the deadly shooting.
Bryant explained in detail how Issiah's mom was "irate" about Issiah leaving the house and taking the car. Upon inspection of the car, Bryant said, "I did see some marks on the bumper," but didn't notice anything else.
Kyle Borland of the Orange County Sheriff's Office was called to the stand. He is an investigator describing his response to the Deerfield Crossing Apartments in Mebane.
Borland, who is in his 25th year with the sheriff's office and sixth year as a criminal investigator, said he went to the scene on the night of the crime. He said he was able to locate several shell casings" near the body of Lyric Woods.
In response to a question, Borland said he was not able to identify the caliber of the bullets without picking them up and examining them. He said he did not touch the shell casings but asked an evidence technician to collect them.
Borland also said he visited Deerfield Crossing the next day, Sept. 19, after an FBI task force found a vehicle of interest there that appeared to have some bloodstains on it.
He said when he got there, the FBI was talking to Issiah Ross's mother. He looked at the vehicle in question, saw the alleged bloodstains, and called for a tow truck to seize the vehicle and take it to a secure area at the detention center.
Retired Orange County sheriff lieutenant Dawn Hunter was on the stand shortly after recess. Hunter testified about her observations on the day the bodies (Lyric Woods and Devin Clark) were found.
